Suspension device for magnetic transducers

Abstract

A suspension device is disclosed which is formed from a single thickness of resilient material for urging a plurality of magnetic heads toward a moving magnetic surface. The suspension device comprises a base area adapted to be affixed to a support structure, a plurality of adjacent gimbal sets each having a first sinuous gimbal member and a second sinuous gimbal member, and a plurality of leaf spring members that join the gimbal sets to the base area. The sinuous gimbal members each further comprise a plurality of laterally adjacent gimbal legs.

I claim: 
     
       1. A suspension device for supporting a plurality of adjacent magnetic heads against a fluid bearing formed between said magnetic heads and a moving magnetic surface, comprising: a body member with an axis parallel to the movement of the said moving magnetic surface; and   a plurality of adjacent gimbal sets each having a first sinous gimbal member and a second sinuous gimbal member, said first and second sinuous gimbal members each comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent gimbal legs parallel to said axis, each said gimbal leg having a first and second end, said gimbal leg first and second ends alternately joined to form said sinuous gimbal members, said first and second sinuous gimbal members each further having a first and inner end and a second and outer end, said first end inner ends joined in substantially close proximity to said body member, each said first and second sinuous gimbal members further comprising an extension member joined at a first end to said second and outer ends and extending therefrom to a bonding surface for bonding to said magnetic heads.   
     
     
       2. A suspension device as in claim 1 wherein said bonding surface includes a pad disposed at a second end of said extension member and generally parallel to said first and second sinuous gimbal members for abuting said magnetic heads. 
     
     
       3. A suspension device as in claim 1 wherein said body member comprises a base area adapted to be affixed to support means, and a plurality of leaf spring members joining said base area to said first and inner ends. 
     
     
       4. A suspension device as in claim 3 wherein said leaf spring members are parallel to said axis. 
     
     
       5. A suspension device as in claim 1 wherein said body member and said gimbal sets are formed from a single thickness of resilient material. 
     
     
       6. A suspension device as in claim 1 wherein said extension members have formed therein a groove parallel to said moving magnetic surface and intermediate said bonding surface and said second and outer end for increasing the flexural freedom therein. 
     
     
       7. A suspension device for supporting a plurality of adjacent magnetic heads against a fluid bearing formed between said magnetic heads and a moving magnetic surface, comprising, a body member with an axis parallel to the movement of said moving magnetic surface, said body member comprising a base area adapted to be affixed to support means, and a plurality of leaf spring members having first ends joined to said base area, and having second and opposite ends; and   a plurality of adjacent gimbal sets each having a first sinuous gimbal member and a second sinuous gimbal member, said first and second sinuous gimbal members each comprising a plurality of laterally adjacent gimbal legs parallel to said axis, each said gimbal leg having a first and second end, said gimbal leg first and second ends alternately joined to form said sinuous gimbal members, said first and second sinuous gimbal members each further having a first and inner end and a second and outer end, said first and inner ends joined in substantially close proximity to said second ends of said leaf spring members, each said first and second sinuous gimbal members further comprising an extension member joined at a first end to said second and outer free ends and extending therefrom to a bonding surface for bonding to said magnetic heads; and   said body member and said gimbal sets are formed from a single thickness of a resilient material.   
     
     
       8. A suspension device as in claim 7 wherein said leaf spring members are parallel to said axis. 
     
     
       9. A suspension device as in claim 7 wherein said extension members have a groove formed therein parallel to said magnetic surface and intermediate said bonding surface and said second and outer ends for increasing flexure freedom therein. 
     
     
       10. A suspension device for supporting a plurality of magnetic heads for coaction with a moving magnetic surface comprising a body member disposed with an axis parallel to the movement of the moving magnetic surface,   at least one gimbal set supported by said body member, at least one gimbal set having first and second sinuous members and each said sinuous member including a plurality of connected gimbal members, and   a plurality of bonding pads, each of said first and second sinuous members being connected to a bonding pad adapted for mounting at least one magnetic head thereon.   
     
     
       11. The suspension device of claim 10 including a plurality of said gimbal sets. 
     
     
       12. The suspension device of claim 10 wherein said body member includes a plurality of spring members, each of said gimbal sets being supported on one of said spring members such that said first and second sinuous members are disposed symmetrically with respect to the associated spring member. 
     
     
       13. The suspension device of claim 12 wherein said sinuous members include an extension member disposed substantially perpendicular to the remaining portions of said sinuous members, said bonding pads being connected to the ends of said extension members and disposed in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of said sinuous members. 
     
     
       14. The suspension device of claim 10, 11, 12, or 13 wherein said body member and said gimbal sets are formed from a single thickness of resilient material.